Investigators told CBS Evening News that the ExxonMobil Torrance refinery explosion that rocked the city in February was almost a catastrophic event because of a potential threat to hydrofluoric acid containers.

“A photo submitted to federal investigators and obtained by CBS News shows that piece landed just a few feet from a tank containing a form of hydrofluoric acid,” a CBS press release said. “It’s a highly toxic chemical that, if released, can form a cloud of toxic gas that can drift for miles, potentially causing thousands of injuries and even death.”

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